Launching device for life preservers



Oct. 1l, 1932. E. R. F. JOHNSON LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR LIFE PRESERVERS Fild March 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. l1, 1932. E. R. F. JOHNSON LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR LIFE'PRESERVERS Filed March 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 Unirse .STATES PATENT 'oi-*FICE ELDRIDGE 'R'. FERRIMORE JOHNSON, 0F MO'ORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENTS CORPORATION, OF OAMDEN, 'NEW JERSEY, A vCORPO- i RATION 0F' NEW JERSEY LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR LIFE PRESERVERS ,Application led March 23, 1932. Serial No. 600,765.

i This yinvention relates to holding and Ylaunching means for lite preservers and more particularly to devices embodying a life ring vor buoy having attached thereto a torch,

smoke producing device, or the like which V'foperates'when it is dropped-in the water with the life ring.'

The usual type' of marine torch or smoke producing devic-e embodies va sealed container having a removable or detachable portion so that the seal of lthe container can be vbroken l'before it is thrown in the water with the life ring, the torch being usually connected with the life ring by .a lanyard. `The container holds some suitable substance which is acted upon by the water entering after the seal is ,broken toproduce a visible signal indicating j must be cut before the ring can be used, the

vsealot the container being broken in deyt-achinp it from the rail. But knives for cutting the lashings are not always handy when needed, and the loss ot minutes or even .sec-

minute.

onds in Agetting the ring into the water may :mean the 'difference between life and death, since a ship moving Aat say tiiiteen knots will l travel approximately live hundred yards per Time ,is therefore ot the essence in releasing the lite ring and torch, and hence it has been proposed heretofore to mount the and the torch in suitable supports or housings so that they can be released by actuation ot a handle or other operating member. lt is necessary, however, that the life ring and torch be firmly secured to withstand Vrough usage and heavy weather', while at the same time means must be provided for insuring Va smooth andpositive delivery of the ringand torch and positive breaking ot the `v-to'rch Lseal instantaneously and without danger of sticking or binding ot the parts.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel means for holding and launching a li tering and torch which means retains the ring and torch securely in position but releases and launches the ring and torch and brealrsthe torch seal smoothly and instantaneously with a single continuous man ual operation such as pulling a cable.

Another object is to provide novel means tor holding and launching a life ri-n-g and torch wherein the ring and torch are not vonly released but are both positively ejected from the holder `and the torch seal positively broken by the actuation of a single operating member.

' One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be'construed as a delinition of the limits ot the invention, reference being ,had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side view of an apparatus em- Fig. 3 is a detail of part of the apparatus; i' Fig. 4; is a view of the side ot apparatus opposite from that shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an end view partly in section of the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view `oi a portion of the apparatus.

The life ring is preferably mounted releasably in a holder of any suitable type, size and shape, which may be secured or l example to the rail or other part of a ship.

In the form shown, the yholder l is of metal or any other suitable material and is generally U-shaped as shown in Figs. lwand 4, the cross section of said housing being .also U-shaped as shown at the upper portion of Fig. 5. On its side adjacent the ship, the holder is `provided with ribs 2 to which 4are secured suitable clamps 3 tor securing 4the 'holder on a rail 4 of the ship which rail eX- tends between adjacent stanchions .5. The ribs 2 are also provided with brackets 6 that are secured in any suitable way to the side 7 of the ship, so -that the holder is rigidly supported. It will be understood, however, that, any other suitable means may be provided for securing the holder toV the ship, or to a stationary dock or Vthe like.

The life ring may be of any suitable type and in the form shown comprises a ring 8 ofV cork or otherbuoyant material covered with canvas 9.an'd vprovided if desired 'with the usual'hand linev56, the holder being of proper size to receive the ring. Connectedl to the .ring 8 in a manner,described'hereim after is a marine torch v10 which also may be vof any suitable or known type. For the purposes of illustration, said torch comprises a normally sealed container 1n which is a quantity of suitable material such asv carbide which produces an inflammable gas when mixed with water. rThe life ring8 is securely lheld in the holder 1 by lsuitable means which can be released on actuation of an Aoperating member, preferably by a securing .20 `holder and releasably'held at one end so as 'to support the ring in the holder.

or holding strap secured either to thering or vet 14 that is provided with an opening 15 through which the lend ofthe strap 12ertends, the eye 13cof the strap being disposed between and in alignment` withopenings 16 in two rings 17 preferably formed integrally ywith the bracket 14. A locking pin 18 extends through the opening 16 and the eye 13 land normally holds the life ringin the holder 1 in the position illustrated in the drawings. U y `V .1g

The `torch 10 'is connectedgwith the, life `ring byr a lanyardlwhi-ch as shown is at- 'tached at Vone end to an eye 2O on the torch and is loopedaround and secured to the strap 12 at 21 vas'shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Suitable meansV are provided for securing the torch in the holder and from which the torch'is quickly releasable. As shown, la housing bracket 22 is securedv to thebracket ,14,k said bracket 22 being provided with va .plurality of depending leaf springs 23 which normally holdthe vtorch inthe position shownin the drawings.

Vith apparatus of this type,-the necessary operations vin releasing 'and launching the life ringand torch are-that the seal on the torch must be broken and the life ring and `torch must be released from the holding `means described above, and preferably both the life ring and torch shouldbe Vpositively ejected from the holding means by manually operated ejectors. As above stated, all of these operations should' be performed freely and in sequence by the actionkof asingle operating member. Hence means are provided for breaking the sealv on the torch, for withdrawing the locking pin 18 from engagement in the eye 13 of thel strap 12,

yfor positively ejecting the life ring 8 from the holder 1, and for positivelyejecting the torch lOjfrom the holding springsf23, all n of said means being actuatedfby a suitable operating member such as a cable in suchV a way that pulling onV the cableperformsthe desired operations in sequence and elfects a smooth and positive delivery of the ring and torch. i Y 1 c Y f For purposes" of illustration, the seal on the torch may be formed by a cap 24 of anyV suitable type that is soldered to the topof lthe torch so-as normally to close an opening 25 (Fig. 6), the cap being adapted to break away from the torch so that ,when the torch is dropped in the water the opening 25, is no longer sealed. To this end aneye26 is secured to the cap 24 `and aring 27 passes through the eye 26 and around a lug or pin 28 on a lever 29 that is suitably pivoted at 30 on a bracket 31 secured to the top of the torch rousing bracket V22. K'Ihee'ndof the lever 29 is Vforked at 32`and surrounds an actuating cable 33 so that the lever may be.

swung by pulling on the cableto Vbreak the cap 24 from the torch. Asshown, the actuating cable 33 isrsplit at 34,the branches-35 and 36 thereof extendingupwardlyto the top of the holder 1 and passing through an opening 37jfor1ned in 5 a, bracket 38 securedV to the top of said holder inany suitable manner. vThe ycable 35, terminatesin a loopeorV ring 39 at the top ofthe housing, which loop or yring may bev grasped to launch the 'ring and torch. The cable 36 extends upwardly to any yother desired position on the ship so hat the mechanism can bel actuated there rom.

. The first action desired on pullingthe cable 33 is to swing the lever 29 to breakthe torch seal as described above, and the second delsiredaction is to releasey the locking pin 18,

these operations taking place before the positive ejection ofthe torchand ring. To these ends the cable 33 in the formshown passes through a plurality O f openings formed in a cable block 40 (Fig. 3) whichcable block as shown in Fig. 1 engages the forkedy end 32 of the'lever 29. As shown in Fig. 3 the cableV passes first through an opening 41 in the block 40, thenthrough an eye 42formed at one vend ,of theilocking pin 18, and then Lthrough openings43 and 44 of-theblock 40;

From theblock 40 the cable passes around a pulley 45, which as shown .isl mounted in a bracket 45secured tothe bracket14, and Y slack isnormallyprovided in thecable atV 46 so 'that the operations-of breaking the seal `on the torch and raising the vlocking pin 18Y take place before the vcableis pulled tautV 'around the pulley 45 to actuate the ejecting inechganisin hereinafter described. i

f .In the forml shown,- the life ring lis-ej-ected from' the holder .1 vbyfmeans Lof' a curved 'ejector 47 -having an -eye 48 .tofwhich the cable -33 is-attached. Theejector 47 normally lies fin a groove 49 formed in theholderas shown inpFig. 5, theupper end of the. ejector being curved-over` they top of the life ring. Preferably the'ejectorisprovidedwith a centering i pin 50 which as shown is adapted toente-r a pocket -51 formed in .the bracket 38 yat 'the top of the-holder. After the pin 18 has been pulled out of the eye 13, the life ring is free to fall by gravity from the holder, butconltinued pulling on-the cable 33 takes up -the slack vat 46 and actuates the ejector-*47 to displace the life ring positively from .the

i holder and tofgive it an initial start so that there is no danger of thering failing to. drop vbecause of sticking or binding -rin the holder.

.'Sincethe torch A10 is connectedwith the-life .ring by the lanyard `19, the ring .would tend to pull the torch from zthe springs'23 on drop*- Yping free of the holder. `Preferably however Amovement of Vthe 'life ring 8V while itis vstill .--under the `positive controlof the ejector47. "'Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6,'a i torchA ejector 521is1'inserted in. theholding the lanyard 19 is of considerable lengtlnand if ,the torch should stick in its housingbrackf et, the life ringwould be'left hanging therefrom. Accordingly, means are also provided forpositively ejectingor `pulling the torch 10 from thelspringsy23, said: means-in the formxshown being actuated .by downward bracketz22, said ejector. being provided with forked arms 53 which engagezover the top of the torch and embracethe-cap. 24 as shown ziniFig. 6. An eye 54 isiformed'sinthe lower rend Vof the ejector 52, and a lanyard 55 is .means for .the litering 8 in any suitable man- .ner. *As clearly 'shownzin Fig. 1, the lanyard :connected lto said eye and also to the releasing 19 which is looped about the strap 12211521 4"-may be continued =toformrthe llanyard 55, although `separate lanyards 1.may be' provided `if desired vand the lanyard 55y may be coninected to the life'ring V'in'anyother suitable .mannen v `The operation of thefapparatus 'will be clear from the foregoingdescription and may be summarized-as follows: The lllfevrin'gand torch are normally in the'positionshown in the drawings,wherein.'the life-'ring is posi- A Vtively supported in the-holder by thev engage- `ment vof the locking pin 18 inthe eye 13 and the torch 10 is held in the housing bracket v22by theV springs23. Preferably the lanyard 19 is coiled looselyabout .the rings 17 on the :bracket 14, as shown in Fig. 1. .When .it is desired to use the life ring, the ring 39'is grasped andpulledby theoperator. The first vaction which takes place is the raising of the lever 29 vabout its pivot30, `by virtue of the engagement of the cable block 40w.ith the f endrof said lever, this yaction as .described above breaking the cap 24 away from the torch as ,shown in F ig. 6. During the raising of the lever 29, the pin 18 is also being raised, and after the torch seal has been broken, the

pin 18 vis disengaged from the eye 13 of the tor may continue until the end thereof reaches the pulley 45, at which time the ring is substantially free from the holder.

The downward movement of the ring takes up the slack in the lanyard before the movement of the ejector 47 is finished, so that the pull on the ring 39 is transmitted positively to the ejector 52 and the torch is jerked free of the springs 23. rlhis arrangement insures that the torch shall be positively ejected ring against delivery from the holder. The

- life ring, together with the strap 12, lanyard v55, ejector 52 and torch 10 drop freely from the housing, the coiled lanyard 19 running freely from the rings 17. To restore the apparatus to condition for further use, the used torch -10 is replaced by a new torch. rEhe ejector 47 is properly positioned in the holder in the position shown in the drawings and the life ring is inserted in the holder, the end of the strap 12 being passed through the opening 15 and the locking pin 18 being inserted .in the eye 13 of the strap. The ejector 52 is now inserted in the torch holding bracket 22 .and the new torch is then inserted in the bracket, the ring y27 of the torch being engaged over the lug 28 on the lever 29. The

lanyard 19 is then coiled loosely about the `and also prevents the torch sticking in the. housing bracket and thus holding the life rings 17, the cable 33 and cable block 40 are.

arranged as shown in the drawings, and the apparatus is ready for a second operation.

It will be observed that the torch and ring are securely mounted and held against accidental displacement. This is an important:

characteristic of devices of this type since t the life ring is only used in case of an emergency which may not occur over a period of years. This fact, however, also renders it limportant to provide means Jfor positively ejecting the torch and ring from the holding means to prevent sticking, binding, adhesion, etc., of the various parts of the apparatus after being secured as shown and exposed to -the elements over long periods. The ope-ration of launching the device is simple and substantially instantaneous, it being only necessary to grasp and pull a single operating member. As described above, a single smooth and complete pull ony the operating member eEects thel complete sequence of operations revquired to launch the device properly. Y i Y It Will be understood that the invention i not limited to the l-iorm described and illustrated in the drawings, but is capable of a variety of physical expressions. .Moreoven changes may be made in the details of construction, form and arrangement ot the oar-ts Without departing from' the spirit or" the invention. F or example the o aeratinff member may comprise ahandle or leverinstea'd oif 'a pull ring; ythe arrangement of vthe cable breaks the torch seal, the cable block and pulley, the 'form of the ejectors, etc. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition oi the limits of' the invention. i

What is claimed is:

l. ln apparatus or" the classn described, the combination or" a lite ring and a torch havinga breakable seal, holding means for said 'ring and torch, releasablenieans for securing said ring and torch in saidholding means, means for breaking the torch seal, means for positively ejecting said ring i and torch from said' holding means, a common operating-element, and operative conections between said element and Vsaid seal breaking means, said releasable means, andfsaid ejecting means.

2. ln apparatus oil-the class described7 the combination otra lite ring and a torch having a breakable seal, holding means for said ring and torch, releasable means for securing said ring and torch in said holding means, means for breaking the torch seal, means tor positivelyv ejecting said ring and'torch from said holding means, an operating cable, and connections between said cable said seal breaking means, said releasing inea-ns and said ejectingmeans whereby a pull on said cable elects the breaking of the seal and the release of said securing means and thereafter the positive delivery of saidY ring and'torch f from ysaid holding means. l

vcombination ol a holder,

3.1n apparatus of the class described, the

life ring, releasable means for holding said lite ring iii'`said holder, means for positively ejecting said life ring from saidholder, an operating element, and operative connections between d element andv said releasing and ejecting` means whereby said lite ring is released-fand ejected troni said holder on actuation or" said element. y

4. ln apparatus of the class described, the combination ot'a holder, a lite ring, a locking vdevice for securing said life ring in the holder, an ejector for positively discharging the life ring from the holder, and an operatingcable connected to said Alocking` means and to ysaid ejector, whereby pullingy on said Leonesa cable vreleases the locking means and positively ejects the life"` ring vfrom the holder.

5. In apparatus ofthecla'ss described, the combination of aholder, a life ringV in saidV holder, a st'rapconnected to theli'fe ring land vhaving an eye formed therein, a locking mein- Vber carried by the holder and normally passing through said eye tohold thelife ring'in 'the holder, :an ejectorA for discharging the life ring from the holder., andanv operating cable connected' torsaid locking viriemberv and 'to said ejector whereby movement of the cable removes the locking Vmember from the eye to release the ringand moves theejector holder.

.combinationoic a holder, a .life ring in said holder, a strap connected to the'life ring and having an eye formed therein',a locking membei` carried by the holder Vand normally passingltlirough said eye to hold the life ringV in theholder, an ejector fory discharging the life y ring from theholder, and operating'means ilorreleasing the locking member from said eye and operating said ejector to discharge the life ringY-'romtheholder.

7. ln apparatus of theclass-described,'the combination ot an inverted-U-shaped holder, a lite ring therein, Ya holding strap supporting said life ring and vhaving an eye formed therein, a bracket extending acrossl the legs of the lil-shaped holder, a locking pin carried onj said bracket and passing through the Y. eye in said strap, an ejectorin said holder and combinationiot a holder, a life ring, locking means for holding said lite'ring in the holder, an ejector for discharging the'life ring from the holder, a torch connected With the life ring and'releasably mounted on said holder, and operating means operatively connected Witlrsa-id*lockingrineans and with said life ringejector. Y, V

9. ln apparatus oiethe class'described', the combination ot a holder, a life ring, locking means for holding the `life ring inthe holder, `a torch connected with the life ring, resilient Ymeans'forholding the torchon the holder, a life ring ejector, and-.operating means operatively connected with said locking means and said ejector. Y v

. lO.y ln appa'ratusof the class described, the combination of a holder, a lite ring therein, locking means for holding the lite ring in the holder, a life ring ejector, la torch, means for releasably securin'gthe torch to the holder,

6. In apparatus of theY class desc 1ibed'., the

f ejector.

Lacasse a lanyard connecting the torch with the life ring, a torch ejector connected to the life ring locking means and normally engaging the torch, and operating means connected with said locking means and said life ring ejector.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a holder, a life ring, locking means for holdingthe life ring in said holder, an ejector for discharging the life ring from said holder, a torch connected with the life ring and releasably mounted onsaid holder, and an operating cable connected with said locking means and ejector whereby pulling on said cable releases the locking means and discharges the ring and torch positively from said holder.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring, locking means for holding the life ring in said holder, an ejector for discharging the life ring from said holder, a torch connected withy the life ring and releasably mounted on said holder, a torch ejector connected to the life ring lecking means and normally engaging said torch, and an operating cable connected with said locking means and ring ejector whereby pulling on the cable releases said locking means and positively operates said ring ejector and torch ejector.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring,.locking means for holding the life ring in the holder, a life ring ejector, a torch releasably carried on the holder and having a breakable seal, a seal breaking member, means connecting the torch with the life ring, and an operating member connected with said seal breaking member, said locking means and said ejector.

14E. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring, locking means for holding the life ring in the holder,

a life ring ejector, a torch releasably carried on the holder and having a breakable seal, a seal breaking member,1neans connecting the torch and ring, and an operating cable connected with said member, locking means and ejector whereby pulling on said cable breaks the torch seal and releases the locking means and thereafter positively operates said connected with said life ring locking means and normally engaging said torch, and an operating cable connected with said member, locking means and life ring ejector whereby pulling onsaid cable breaks the torch seal and releases the locking means and positively operates said ring ejector and said torch ejector.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring therein, a holding strap connected to the life ring and having an` eye formed therein, a locking pin carried by the holder and normally passing through said eye, an ejector for discharging the life ring from the holder, a torch having a breakable seal and releasably carried on the holder, an operating lever connected with the breakableseal portion of the torch, means connecting the torch with the life ring, and an. operating member connected with said le ver, locking pin and ejector.

17.. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring therein, a holding strap connected to the life ring and having an eye formed therein, a locking pin carriedon theholder and passing through said eye, an ejector `tor discharging the life ring from the holder, a torch having a breakable seal and releasably carried on said holder, a lever. pivoted on the holder and operatively connected with the breakable portion of the torch seal, a lanyard connecting the torch with the life ring, a torch ejector connected to the life ring and normally engaging the torch, and an operating cable connected withsaid lever, locking pin and life ring ejector.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring, releasable means for holding the life ring in the holder, an ejector for positively discharging the life ring from the. holder, an operating member, and connections between said operating member and said releasable means andA ejector, said connections including lost mo tion whereby the life ring is fully released before the ejector is actuated.

19. Infapparatus of the class described, the combination oi. a holder, a life. ring, releasable means for holding the life ring in the holder, an ejector for positively discharging the life ring from the holder, and an operating cable connected to said releasable means and ejector and normally having slack between said connections whereby pulling on said cable first releases said life ring and after the ring is fully released operates said ejector.

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring therein, a holding strap connected to said ring and having an eye formed therein, a locking member carried by said holder and extending through said eye, a life ring ejector, and operating means for withdrawing said locking member from said eye and operating said ejector, said operating means providing lost motion whereby said member is fully withdrawn before the ejector is actuated.

21. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a holder, a life ring therein, a holding strap connected to said ring and having an eye formed therein, a locking member carriedrby said holder and extending through said eye,l a life ring ejector, andan operating Cable connected with said locking member and ejector and normally 1 havingslack'between said connections whereby pulling on said cable fully withdraws said locking member from said eye and thereafter op; erates said ejector. Y v

22.' In apparatus of the class described, the kcombination of ya holder, a life ring, locking means for holding the life ring in the holder, 'a life ring ejector, a torch releasably Vcarried on the holder.v and having a breakable seal, a seal kbreaking member, a lanyard connecting g5 said torch and life ring, a torch ejector connected with'said life ring locking means and normally engaging'said torch, and an opera'ting'cableconnected with said member,lock ingmeansand life ring ejector and normally Y g3 having slack between its connections to said member and loclrlng means and its connection to said ejector whereby pulling on said rcable positively operates said member and releases j said locking means and thereafterpositively Y 25 operates said ring Vejectorfand said Vtorch ejector. iY f, j l

23. in apparatus of the class described, the combination with a life ring, releasable holding means therefor, ejeeting means for dis- Z'J charging the ring,la torch connected to the Y l i ring and having 'ay b-realrable seal, Vand aseal .breaking f` member, of an operating cable Y Y Y adapted for a single lcontinuelle pull, said cablebeing connected to said member and read leasable holdingmeansand toY said ejector and having slack to be taken upbefore pulling Vonlsaid ejector. Y ln ,testimonywhereofV I have signed this specification.Y f

Emmer n. PERRIMORE JOHNSON. u 

